Split-Top Roubo question

As far as I can tell the reasons for the split top on the Roubo workbench is for portability and to allow for the slot stop feature. I don’t care about portability or stops. I’m making my bench 5’ long x 24” wide. I’m using the Bench craft leg and wagon vices. Are there any other benefits to splitting the tops that I’m missing?

The prime advantage of a split top is in the build. Two smaller slabs are easier to handle than one large one. Most shops do not have a 25” planer, with a split you can use either a lunchbox or a 20” planer to dimension your slabs. A secondary advantage is small mistakes in size of either the base or the top can easily be hidden in the split. Another is it allows a wider base for a given working slab size.

As for tools ending up on the floor, if you size the tool holder part correctly it will not happen.

You may find the “stop” feature not very useful and while I will occasionally use the split for clamping it isn’t used that often.

My last two benches have a split top, I debated using a single vs, split slab for the last build and went with the split for the reasons stated above.

The new bench is in the foreground with the older bench in the background.

As far as I can tell the reasons for the split top on the Roubo workbench is for portability and to allow for the slot stop feature. I don’t care about portability or stops. I’m making my bench 5’ long x 24” wide. I’m using the Bench craft leg and wagon vices. Are there any other benefits to splitting the tops that I’m missing?

- newwoodbutcher

Is there a reason for a 5’ bench? If you have enough room a couple or three extra feet will make a huge difference in usability.